Hydrocarbon lamp



Dec. 28,1926. 1,612,394,.

T. NAGEL- HYDROCARBON LAMP Filed Oct 6, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I/VVEIVTOR:

Dec. 28 1926.

T. NAGEL HYDROCARBON LAMP Filed Oct- 6, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

ENETED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE NAGEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE NAGEL-CI-IASE CQ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

HYDROCABBON LAMP.

Application filed October 6, 1922: Serial No. 592,925.

My invention relates to hydro-carbon lamps and particularly to such lamps as generate a gas fromkerosene or gasoline.

One of the objects of my improvement is the provision of simple and efiicient means for starting the generation of gas in the device.

A further object is the provision of a thin strip of metal having its ends enlarged and 10 encircling the gas generating tube for starting the. generation of gas by means of a small fire, such as a lighted match.

A further object is the provision of a simple and efficient nozzle cleaning device in lamps of the character mentioned which can be operated during the working of the lamp.

A further object of this invention is the provision of cleaning material means for the nozzle which can be easily and quickly cleaned.

A still further object is the provision of a gas generating tube and wicking arranged so that the wicking can be easily and quickly cleaned or renewed.

Other objects will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

An embodiment of my invention is illus trated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which Fig. 1 is a central section of a lamp embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental view looking as from line 3-8 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4; is a view of the burner tip looklng as from line 44 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section showing the gas discharging nozzle and needle for cleaning same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have indicated a reservoir 6 which maybe formed of any desirable substance capable of holding pressure. The reservoir 6 may have a plug 7 secured in one side for closing a filling opening. The plug 7 may have a gasket 8 for sealing the joint around said plug. The gasoline or kerosene 9 in the reservoir 6 is forced up into the burner by means of air pressure on such fuel. Air may be fed into the reservoir in any desirable manner. I have indicated a valve 10 thread ed in a suitable opening in plug 7 the valve 10 being arranged to be screwed down tight when air is not being forced into the reservoir. .Vhen air is being forced into the reservoir, apump, not shown, is attached to the threaded opening 11 and the air forced through suitable openings through the plug 7 into the reservoir. A ball valve 12 may be mounted in the under side of plug 7 so as to close the air passage in said plug. When the valve 10' is released from the opening 7 the pressure in the reservoir 6 automatically closes the opening 7. The ball 12 and seat 7 then becomes an automatic check valve during the operation of the air pump. Then it is desired to relieve the pressure in the reservoir 6 the plug 7 may be loosened sufliciently to let the air escape through a passage 13 which is shown in the drawings closed by the gasket 8.

Extending upwardly from the top of the reservoir is a pipe 14 with its bott dm end adjacent the bottom of reservoir 6 so as to conduct the fuel out of the reservoir and up to the burner. A handle 15 of wood or other heat resisting material may be placed around tlie tube 1 1 for convenient carrying of the lamp.

At the top of tube 1 1' is a needle valve 16 and said valve may be of any approved design and construction. From the valve 16 is a pipe 17 leading upwardly into a fitting 18. The fitting 18 is connected by means of a union 19 with an upwardly extending gas generating tube 20. The gas generating tube 20 may be connected to the valve 16 in any desirable manner, that shown being simply a convenient connection.

The tube 20 has a restriction 21 adjacent its lower end and below the opening from union 19. A packing gland 22 is provided on the lower end of the tube 20 below the restriction 21 and a rod 23 ext-ends through the packing gland 22 and restriction 21 upwardly and nearly through the tube 20. A thumb wheel 24 may be attached to the lower end of the rod in any desirable manner. I preferably provide a set screw 25 for attaching the thumb wheel 24: to the rod 23 so that'the thumb wheel can be easily removed to permit sliding of the rod upwardly out of the packing gland and out of the tube 20 when desired.

Disposed around the rod 23 in the tube 20 is a wicking material 26, such as asbestos, having a diameter substantially filling the bore of the tube 20, the wicking material being formed so as to be a little shorter than the distance between the restriction 21 and the top of the tube so as to permit longitudinal movement of the rod and wick in the tube 20.

At the top of the rod 23 is a recess 27 in which is positioned a short rod 28. A tube 29 is secured to the end of rod 28 and in the upper end of the tube 29 is a sharp pointed cleaning needle 30 securely held in the tube 29. A cap 31 is disposed over the tube 29 and threaded on the upper end. of rod 23 so as to bind the tube 29 and rod 28 tightly against the end of rod 23. This means of securing the needle 30 to the end of rod 23 is arranged so that the needle can be quickly and easily removed from the rod 23 to permit repair or removal. The cap 31 preferably has an opening through which the needle 39 projects, as clearly indicated in Fig. and this cap also supports the needle so as to facilitate cleaning of the nozzle, to be described later.

The upper end of the tube 20 is closed by a plug or cap 32 which is provided with a discharge nozzle 33 in axial alinement with the tube 29 and needle 30. lVhen the rod 23 is moved upwardly, as indicated in Fig. 2, the needle will pass into nozzle 33 to clean the latter. The needle 30 is preferably small enough to prevent entirely closing off the passage of gas through the nozzle 33 when the lamp is in use. Said needle 30 may be formed of any desirable material, and a metal having high resistance to oxidation, such as iridium, or an alloy thereof, is particularly desirable.

When the thumb wheel 24 is removed from red 23 and cap 32 is removed from the top of tube 20, the rod 23, wicking 26, and cleaning needle 39 may be slid upwardly out of the tube. This permits cleaning or renewing the needle or wiching when so desired. The sliding movement of the wicking in the tube also facilitates keeping the wicking clean in use.

Attached to the upper end of tube 20 is a burner 34:, which in the present instance is indicated as extending upwardly and branching with two downwardly extending parts each having a burner tip 35 thereon. The burner may be arranged in any desirable manner. in the form indicated the tips 35 each has a plurality of openings 36 through which the heated gases pass to the mantle 37 for burning. A screen 38 may be provided in each tip above openings 36 therein to prevent popping back of the gas into the burner.

At the top of the burner I have indicated a shade holder 39 supporting a shade 4:0 and it will be understood that these parts may be used when desired and may have anyshape or style desired.

On the outer side of the tube 20 adjacent the lower ends of the mantles 37 is a cupshaped member ll opening downwardly and attached to the tube 20. Extending upwardly from one side of the member a1 is a. sheet metal strip 4-2. This sheet metal strip extends upwardly to adjacent the tops of the mantles and has an enlarged portion 43 encircling the tube 20 adjacent the nozzle 33. The parts ail, 4-2 and i3 are preferably integral and made from a single sheet metal stamping, but may be formed separately and secured together if desired. The part 12 is preferably curved inwardly, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1, and provided with a num ber of serrations or projections 44: extend ing away from tube 20. When it is desired to light the lamp a lighted match, not shown, is held close to the cup 41 under the member 42 and the heat from such light is conducted through the cup 41, parts 4-2 and 43 to the tube 29 for heating the fuel in the tube 29 for the initial formation of gas. The points 41A help to collect the heat from the lighted match and such heat is then conducted on through members 42 and 43 to the tube 20. The inward curve of part 42 further helps to collect and conduct the heat toward tube 20.

The arrangement of the wicliing in the tube 20 is such that it is impossible for fire to be led back into the supply of gasoline. Furthermore, the wick 26 prevents the accumulation of a quantity of fuel in tube 39 so that such fuel cannot boil when the lamp is in use. This arrangement provides an even flow of gas and consequently no flickering of the light. I

Attached to and supported by the fitting 18 is an air tube 4'6 which has its upper end attached to the burner 34. The tube 46 is curved so that its upper end is horizontal -where it engages the burner 3 L. This permits introducing air to the burner at right angles to the path of the gas from nozzle The arrangement is such that upon loosening union 19 the generating tube and parts mounted therein may be disconnected from the lamp by unscrewing the top of tube 29 out of the burner 3a. This also per mits changing the entire generator tube when so desired with a minimum amount of effort. The lower end of the tube i6 is preferably closed by a screen or some other foraminous material to prevent large foreign particles from entering the tube and interfering with the burner. The tube 20 and member 41 .-2t3 are preferably of copper or other good heat conducting material so that the small heat generated by a match can be conducted to the fuel inside of the tube.

When the lamp is to be lighted, a lighted match is held so that its flame burns against cup -31. member 42, and the points 44. This permits the heat from the lighted match to be conducted into the tube 20 adjacent the nozzle, thus vaporizing the fuel. When the fuel is vaporized the volume increases and forces such vaporized t'uel out through nozzle 32 and pipe to the mantles 3'? Where it may be lighted. Usually the vaporized fuel upon reaching the mantles will become lighted trom the match held adjacent cup 41. As soon as the fuel becomes lighted, valve 16 should be opened to permit the supply of i'uel to enter tube 20 and continue the vaporization of fuel and maintaining incandescence of the mantles. W hen it is desired to shut oil? the light it is only necessary to close valve 16, thereby cutting oil the supply or fuel. The heat from the hot mantles 3'? will continue the vaporization of fuel as long as the fuel is conducted to them. The pressure of air in reservoir 6 forces the fuel up through tube 14; through valve 16, pipe 17, fitting l8, and union 19 into the tube 20 where it is vaporized as above described, and with the addition of air from tube %6 provides the combustible mixture for the mantles. The wicking 26 is saturated throughoutlength, including the portion associated with the heat distributing mechanism a14:2 and l3. During the lighting of the lamp when the flame of the match spreads along member 42 and engages the projection the heat will be distributed over a substantial length of the upper portion of the tube 20 near the nozzle 32 so as to generate gas quickly and uniformly, thereby permitting the lamp to be lighted and burned with minimum flickering. It should also be noted that the serrated strip 42 is midway etween the burner tips 35 so that by means of a single match the gas may be generated near the nozzle 32 and ignite as soon as it begins to discharge from the burner tips 35 into the mantles 37 with the required amount of air received from the air inlet tube -16.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangements of parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended and I wish therefore not to be restricted to the pre cise construction herein disclosed.

Havin thus fully disclosed an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a lamp, the combination with an upright tube, 01 a nozzle at the upper end of said tube, wicking in said tube, means for supplying liquid fuel to said Wicking, mantle gas burner mechanism connected to said nozzle with the mantles adjacent the upper portion of said tube, and heat distributing its means comprising spaced-apart annular flanges at the upper portion of said tube with an intervening serrated strip between the same and adjacent the mantle gas burner mechanism.

2. A lamp comprising'a gas generating tube disposed vertically and having a discharge nozzle at its upper end, a metal cup opening downwardly around an intermediate portion of the gas generating tube, and

strip of metal integral with said cup and onto. ding upwardlyfrom the edge thereof longitudinally along said tube in position to conduct heatto the latter.

3. A lamp comprising a gas generating tube, a heat conducting member havingits ends attached to said gas generating tube, a burner attached to the gas generating tube, and a mantle on the burner adjacent the gas Lfilnbtl so that the same source of external heat applied to said heat conducting member may be used without change of position ,7 continue to operate said generator near Sultl nozzle.

4,. A lamp comprising a gas generating uibe, a heat conducting member comprising strip of metal having its central part iced from and its ends attached to said generating tube, and serrations along lateral edges of the central portion of said heat conducting member extending away from said gas generating tube.

5. A lamp comprising a burner, a plurality of mantles attached to the burner, a gas generating tube attached to the burner and disposed adjacent the mantles, and a sheet metal strip having its central portion disposed between the mantles and its ends attached to the gas generating tube adjacent the tops and bottoms of said mantles.

6. A lamp comprising a gas generating tube, a discharge nozzle connected thereto, a rod in said tube and movable along the latter, a needle for cleaning said discharge nozzle, and an elongated cup having a per toration in its bottom to permit said needle to project therethrough a predetermined distance and having means at its other end for securing the cup to said rod and clamp said needle to the end of said rod.

7. A lamp comprising a gas generating tube, a cap detachubly secured to the top end of said tube and having a discharge nozzle therein, a packing gland at the lower end or" said gas generating tube, a rod extending through said packing bland and to a position adjacent said nozzle, a wicking on said rod substantially filling the gas generating tube, the rod and wicking being slidable out of said gas generating tube upon removal of the cap, a needle attached to the end of said rod adjacent the nozzle and adapted to clean the latter upon longitudinal movement nerating tube and said heat conducting to ignite said burner and so that the latter of the rod and wicking, and a thumb wheel connected to said rod to manually operate said needle when desired.

8. A lamp comprising a gas generating tube having a discharge nozzle, a rod slidable in said gas generating tube and having an elongated recess in its end adjacent said nozzle, a needle having a shank adapted to fit into said recess, and an elongated cupshaped clamp detachably threaded onto the end of said rod and having a perforation in its bottom in position, for said needle to project therethrough a predetermined distance.

9. A lamp comprising a gas generating tube having a nozzle, a rod disposed in said tube with a longitudinally elongated recess in its end adjacent the nozzle, a needle having a shank fitting in said recess, a shoulder abutting against the end of said rod, an elongated cup-shaped clamp threaded onto the end of the rod and having a perforation in its bottom through which the pointed end of the needle projects, and an additional shoulder on said needle abutting against the bottom of said clamp near said perforation, the projecting end of the needle being smaller than the opening in said nozzle so as to prevent entirely shutting off the opening when the needel is in said nozzle.

10. Nozzle cleaning mechanism for lamps comprising a movable rod, a needle comprising an iridium point and elongated means for supporting same, and a perforated elongated cup-shaped clamp adapted to be secured to the end of said rod to hold said supporting means connected to said rod with the iridium point projecting through the perforation in said clamp.

11. A lamp comprising a gas generating tube, a detachable nozzle connected to one end of said tube, a rod slidably mounted in said gas generating tube, a cleaning needle attached to one end of said rod and adapted to engage said nozzle for cleaning the latter, a wicking surrounding the rod in said gas generating tube, and means extending from said rod to the exterior of said tube in position to be grasped manually for operation of said cleaning needle, said rod together with said needle and the wicking on said rod being removable from said tube when detached from said nozzle.

12. Nozzle cleaning mechanism for lamps 1 comprising a movable rod with a recess in one of its ends, a needle holder having one end extending into said recess in said rod, a detachable clamp for securing said needle holder rigidly to said rod, and a needle point in the needel holder in position to extend through said clamp in a direction extending along the axis of said rod.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this th day of September, A. D. 1922.

THEODORE NAGEL. 

